Skipper and licensed captain of Sea Scout Ship 228, James Zatwarnicki of Clark

LINDEN — According to Captain Bill Kerber, the Sea Scouts is one of the best kept secrets in Scouting and that is something he would like to change.

The Sea Scouts is a Venturing program for boys and girls ages 14 to 21 who have an interest in boating. The program runs year round, but each weekend during the boating season the Sea Scouts put the skills they've learned to the test aboard a Scout vessel. Their training includes lessons on maintaining and operating the boat, using buoys and lights, taking advantage of the wind and tides, dropping anchor and seamanship.

Kerber, who lives in Staten Island, has been part of the Sea Scout program for 20 years and oversees Sea Scout Ships 24, 243 and 228, which operate out of the Tremley Point Sea Scout Base in Linden. Last month, Sea Scout Ship 228 took a weeklong cruise to Bridgeport, Conn., and Block Island, R.I., under the direction of James Zatwarnicki of Clark, a former Sea Scout and Ship 228 alum who is now the ship's skipper.

"We are trying to let all Scouting family know there are options to Scouting. They don’t need to stop Scouting when there still is more adventures ahead," said Kerber. For more information on the Sea Scouts e-mail seascouts@aol.com.